[tonytieger]

Hi Darin,

Wow you have experience in this. Sent you a PM! - Tony

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Hi Tony -

I'd be interested in finding out more, and possibly testing. I've been doing alternatorless driving for three years, off and on (mostly in the summer, when electrical loads are lower).

See: Plug-in Blackfly: going alternator optional nets +10% mpg - MetroMPG.com

And: Test: Alternator vs. no alternator = 10% gain @ 70 km/h - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

I was thinking about an "ideal" battery recently, actually. It would have a nominal voltage of around 13.5-14v - approximately where the car's electronics are designed to run when the alternator is on.

With the alternator disabled, my car runs at between approximately 12.3v - 11.5v under load, which really isn't ideal.

I'm ScanGauge and MPGuino equipped (for measuring fuel consumption), and reasonably knowledgeable about batteries (built/own a EV conversion - PbA).

Darin